Tolls Increasing (Miami, Homestead, Sawgrass: 2013, homes, construction)

[boxus]

Originally Posted by JackTheRipper

Problem? go to Tallahassee and complain about it .

No problem to me, I nevr have taken a toll except to go to Orlando and back once, and over to St. Pete. I walk to work and to get every other item like groceries.

But just because it does not impact me does not mean I will just sit gleefully back and see it impact others, I am not part of the "me only" society.

I do nt need to go to the capital, email and letters do just fine. But that would assume that the political eladers did not realize what they are doing, but they do know what they are doing.

[Chelito23]

Another issue I have with the toll situation is that for years, tolls were cheap and the road infrastructure was efficient. Tolls were cheap and the actual booths were few and far between. Then the MDX authorized the "tollization" of all of the remaining stretches of the local expressway network and the construction of new toll booths in on historical toll expressways (836).

And what imrpovements have they made? An 836 extension to the Miccosukee casino and Everglades where there is an urban development boudary, so essentially that area won't be growing. They haven't undertaken any meaningful expansions or upgrades to the road network. This all seems to be revenue driven with no tangible results for commuters.

On top of that, it is all SunPass now, so you basically are forced to buy a transponder, that's another cost. Sure, people will say it's "only" 50 more cents a day and the transponder is "only" $50 bucks, one time. But still, it adds up and there is no relief or improvement. Now, if these charges went into a fund to expand metrorail aggressively, I would be delighted. But alas, I have a feeling this extra money that is deducted magically from the transponders falls into the black hole of local government.

[FlyMIA]

Originally Posted by Chelito23

Another issue I have with the toll situation is that for years, tolls were cheap and the road infrastructure was efficient. Tolls were cheap and the actual booths were few and far between. Then the MDX authorized the "tollization" of all of the remaining stretches of the local expressway network and the construction of new toll booths in on historical toll expressways (836).

And what imrpovements have they made? An 836 extension to the Miccosukee casino and Everglades where there is an urban development boudary, so essentially that area won't be growing. They haven't undertaken any meaningful expansions or upgrades to the road network. This all seems to be revenue driven with no tangible results for commuters.

On top of that, it is all SunPass now, so you basically are forced to buy a transponder, that's another cost. Sure, people will say it's "only" 50 more cents a day and the transponder is "only" $50 bucks, one time. But still, it adds up and there is no relief or improvement. Now, if these charges went into a fund to expand metrorail aggressively, I would be delighted. But alas, I have a feeling this extra money that is deducted magically from the transponders falls into the black hole of local government.

There are plenty of improvements being made around the county, as for the sunpass thing. They are not $50. You can get a sticker for $4.99 or a transponder for $25.00 It will save plenty of money in the long, plenty of time and fuel.

[Chelito23]

Originally Posted by FlyMIA

There are plenty of improvements being made around the county, as for the sunpass thing. They are not $50. You can get a sticker for $4.99 or a transponder for $25.00 It will save plenty of money in the long, plenty of time and fuel.

On MDX roadways, what improvements are being made that don't have to do with rebulding lanes and toll collection facilities? I ask because I really don't know...minor construction work seems to be the norm elsewhere with no real imrpovements. Congestion is bad, roads don't seem any wider, so I really ask that question to understand.

Even if a transponder costs 25 as you say and not 50, that is money you have to SPEND in order to PAY the MDX. Sure, you have a valid argument for saving gas money...but I have another even more valid argument. Just use the taxes I already pay on property and goods and use those funds and make do since all the other money they charge in tolls has been used to seemingly streamline the process they use to charge drivers on the road thei new and higher rates.

[hurricaneMan1992]

Originally Posted by Chelito23

... Congestion is bad, roads don't seem any wider, so I really ask that question to understand.

How much wider would you like to make an 8 to 10 lane highway????

What we need is to fix the poorly designed interchanges and on/off ramps that are constant bottlenecks, and especially expand transit alternatives. Instead we keep playing catch-up with repaving, potholes, and deferred maintenance. This is partly because we don't collect enough tolls.

Even if a transponder costs 25 as you say and not 50, that is money you have to SPEND in order to PAY the MDX. Sure, you have a valid argument for saving gas money...but I have another even more valid argument. Just use the taxes I already pay on property and goods and use those funds and make do since all the other money they charge in tolls has been used to seemingly streamline the process they use to charge drivers on the road thei new and higher rates.

Are you willing to pay taxes at European levels? Didn't think so... The taxes you already pay are not nearly enough to maintain the system.

BTW a subpass sticker actually costs $0.24: You pay $4.99 and get a toll credit of $4.99, but the most you can actually use is $4.75. The cost is less than a postage stamp.

[♥♥PRINC3Ss♥♥]

Originally Posted by Chelito23

On MDX roadways, what improvements are being made that don't have to do with rebulding lanes and toll collection facilities? I ask because I really don't know...minor construction work seems to be the norm elsewhere with no real imrpovements. Congestion is bad, roads don't seem any wider, so I really ask that question to understand.

Even if a transponder costs 25 as you say and not 50, that is money you have to SPEND in order to PAY the MDX. Sure, you have a valid argument for saving gas money...but I have another even more valid argument. Just use the taxes I already pay on property and goods and use those funds and make do since all the other money they charge in tolls has been used to seemingly streamline the process they use to charge drivers on the road thei new and higher rates.

You don't those roads, how could you know? You dont even know the price of a Sunpass. No one in their right mind would drive those roads on a regular basis without a Sunpass... And it's been years since those trasporters are practically free.

[♥♥PRINC3Ss♥♥]

Originally Posted by cixcell

Turnpike, Sawgrass tolls to increase - Florida - MiamiHerald.com (http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/09/06/2393695/fdot-turnpike-sawgrass-tolls-to.html - broken link)

wow, they're really trying to finish the economy off in miami aren't they?
i cant think of anything that wouldnt make people want to leave miami-dade county even more.

no jobs and increase all the tolls? thats economic suicide.

think about how much power the turnpike authority and MDX have.
people have to commute further and further when there are fewer and fewer jobs in a attempt to make ends meet.
if you raise the toll prices you could literally push alot of people over the edge.

since i moved here in 2005. the highways in miami have only gotten 1. more expensive and 2. increasingly more and more stretches of it perpetually under construction. so my commute has only ever gotten more difficult/dangerous and i'm paying more for it.
where does this benefit me?

Living in Homestead and working in NW Miami is economic suicide.

[cixcell]

Originally Posted by ♥♥PRINC3Ss♥♥

Living in Homestead and working in NW Miami is economic suicide.

its the only rent i can afford when youre carrying as much debt as i am

[MiamiRob]

Thing is the tolls for the Turnpike were supposed to stop once the bonds to construct it were paid off. That occured sometime in the 1970s I believe yet we are still paying tolls. This law was passed in 2007 for the FDOT by Governor Crist. By the way MDX is not raising tolls on the expressways they control.

This is an excerpt from the Herald:


The law authorizing the increase was signed four years ago by then-Gov. Charlie Crist. It says that the turnpike system has the option to increase tolls each year according to the consumer price index and that there must be a mandatory increase every five years.

Read more: Turnpike, Sawgrass tolls to increase - Florida - MiamiHerald.com (http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/09/06/2393695/fdot-turnpike-sawgrass-tolls-to.html#ixzz1XIjgqNUM - broken link)

Republicans are against raising taxes yet they nickel & dime you to death with fees & tolls. I'm still smarting about having the fees for my car registration being doubled for the past two years.

[FlyMIA]

Originally Posted by Chelito23

On MDX roadways, what improvements are being made that don't have to do with rebulding lanes and toll collection facilities? I ask because I really don't know...minor construction work seems to be the norm elsewhere with no real imrpovements. Congestion is bad, roads don't seem any wider, so I really ask that question to understand.

Even if a transponder costs 25 as you say and not 50, that is money you have to SPEND in order to PAY the MDX. Sure, you have a valid argument for saving gas money...but I have another even more valid argument. Just use the taxes I already pay on property and goods and use those funds and make do since all the other money they charge in tolls has been used to seemingly streamline the process they use to charge drivers on the road thei new and higher rates.

Right by my home they are improving the traffic flow for the North Miami Avenu exit and adding an exit lane. Yes traffic is annoying now but it will help in the future. Also I think some of this money goes to FDOT. They are doing work like improving traffic flow on Brickell. Go to sunpass.com or something like that it is $25. or $4.99!!!!!!! For a sticker which is the same thing. $4.99 that money is paid off easily in a month if you use the freeways frequently by using the sunpass lanes.

As for the taxes I think government spending is a bit out of hand but at the same time I rather have tolls raised then property taxes. Governments all across this country cant make money.